Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopie Goldberg joined the cast of "The View" as its moderator on Sept. 4, 2007, replacing Rosie O'Donnell. Here she is seen with co-hosts Sherri Shepherd and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

Credit: ABC/Steve Fenn

Actress and comedienne Whoopi Goldberg portrays the Genie from Disney's "Aladdin," in part one of a dream scene entitled "Where a Whole New World Awaits," created by photographer Annie Leibovitz. The image was created for the "Disney Dream Portrait Series" to celebrate Disney Parks' "Year of a Million Dreams."

Credit: AP/Disney Resorts, Annie Leibovitz

Whoopi Goldberg flips a light switch in the Empire State Building lobby in New York City to illuminate a model of the building in red on May 17, 2007.

Credit: AP/Empire State Building, Aceto

Comedienne and actress Whoopi Goldberg, shown at the May 8, 2004, Tribeca Family Festival in New York, was dropped as spokeswoman for the Slim-Fast diet drink company on July 14, 2004. Slim-Fast executives decided to pull Goldberg from its advertising campaign after she mocked President Bush at a Democatic political rally.

Credit: AP

Goldberg gestures during an August 2003 news conference in Queens, N.Y., announcing the start of production for her comedy series, aptly entitled "Whoopi." New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg looks on at left.

Credit: AP

The actress, formerly known as Caryn Johnson, reminisces about her career during the 2002 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colo. When Goldberg changed her name, she said she didn't pick the now famous moniker Whoopi, but rather "it picked me."

Credit: AP

The 2002 74th annual Academy Awards marks Goldberg's fourth stint as Oscar host. Here, the Oscar-winning actress is pictured giving her opening monologue. In 2002, Goldberg became one of a very elite group of artists who have won the Grammy, the Oscar, the Golden Globe, the Emmy and a Tony Award.

Goldberg appears as Queen Elizabeth while hosting the 71st Annual Academy Awards in March 1999.

Credit: AP

Goldberg does a little dance with actor Nathan Lane, left, star of Broadway's "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," after a matinee performance in October 1996. Goldberg replaced Lane in the lead role of Pseudolus after Lane's last performance in February 1997. Goldberg toured with the show for five months.

Credit: AP

Always politically active, Goldberg speaks at a 1996 campaign fundraiser for then President Bill Clinton in Los Angeles.

Credit: AP

Goldberg gets help putting her footprints in the wet cement in the forecourt of Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood in 1995. Goldberg's hands, feet and hair braids were imprinted in the sidewalk.

Credit: AP

Goldberg appears with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., during a Capitol Hill forum on proposed cuts in federal programs for children in December 1995. Goldberg was once a welfare recipient herself.

Credit: AP

Goldberg stands next to a nun's habit she donated to New York's Planet Hollywood restaurant in December 1993. Goldberg, who at the time was working on "Sister Act II: Back in the Habit," added the costume to the restaurant's memorabilia collection.

Credit: AP

Goldberg appears with director Robert Altman, far right, and actor Tim Robbins at the 45th Cannes International Film Festival in France May 9, 1992. Goldberg starred alongside Robbins in Altman's film, "The Player."

Credit: AP

Goldberg poses with the three awards she won at the 19th Annual People's Choice Awards in 1993. Goldberg won the awards for favorite female comedy actress, favorite female actress, and for "Sister Act," which won favorite comedy motion picture.

Credit: AP

Goldberg, left, arrives with her daughter, Alexandra Martin, at the 63rd Annual Academy Awards presentation in 1991. That night, Goldberg won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in "Ghost."

Credit: AP

Goldberg responds to questions during her appearance at the Harvard Law School Forum at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 20, 1987.

Credit: AP

Goldberg is seen in December 1985 at the premiere party for "The Color Purple" at New York's Pierre Hotel. Goldberg's role in the film earned her a Best Actress Golden Globe as well as her first Oscar nomination.

Credit: AP

Goldberg is shown at New York's Lyceum Theater in November 1984. At the time, she had her own one-woman show in which she portrayed six different characters.